Siphelele Jiyane

About Siphelele Jiyane

As the CAO at Affirm (Nasdaq: AFRM), I bring a unique perspective to the role. Unlike the traditional CAO, I am not just focused on accounting and financial reporting. I actively contribute to the company’s product development and philanthropic initiatives. In my 20-year career, I have built a deep knowledge of international technical accounting and financial reporting, tax planning and strategy, M&A, IPO readiness, SEC reporting and financial internal controls. I have worked in fintech and with large banking and wealth management institutions, private equity, and venture capital firms. While I currently lead the day-to-day operations of an 80-person global accounting team, the expertise I have gained over the years has led me to be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for product development at Affirm. I partner with the product management and software engineering teams ensure our innovative accounting software solutions meet best practices and minimal risk for accounting methodologies and compliance. With a commitment to giving, I also serve as Treasurer of the Board of Affirm Cares, our employee volunteer-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to impacting the community. When I joined the company in 2016, we had just received Series C funding. Since then, I’ve played a crucial role in the company\'s growth, leading to Series G funding and then to an IPO and a company with over 2,200 employees and revenues of ~$2B. In July 2020, our CEO challenged our team to find a path to IPO readiness by the end of the year. In five months, we architected and executed a financial roadmap that saw Affirm go public in January 2021. I owe a great deal of my success to the people and experience I gained in the 11 years I was a consultant with PwC’s audit practice, working in various international offices: South Africa, Kazakhstan, the UK, and the US. I led teams that supported clients in the financial services, high-tech, and oil & gas, in the areas of auditing, wealth management, securitizations and risk management. I was the first in my family to attend university, to become a Chartered Accountant, and to travel outside of South Africa. I have much gratitude for my success and believe it is my duty to serve as a role model and mentor to others. My journey has been shaped by the opportunities I\'ve received, and I am deeply committed to giving back. While I have no plans to leave Affirm, I am eager to extend my reach serving as an outside advisor or board member, supporting entrepreneurs and start-ups in underserved areas.

Experience

1. Board Advisor

   Affirm

   Jun 2024 — Present

   We believe that more girls with more ideas will create more solutions to benefit us all.

Education

• University of Natal

  Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)

• University of KwaZulu-Natal

  Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Accounting